Mr. Cobham is the coolest guy in the world. I the 1970's he played at the University of Florida and after the show he sat down with the Univ. drummers in marching, symphonic jazz, etc. The get together backstage lasted all evening with us peppering him with queations. We used to incorporate his licks in the marching band charts. I will never forget his kindness.

Billy Cobham is a treasure and a point in favor for humankind

mann this almost brought me to tears. bless you billy cobham!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Best Cobham moment for me,watching him transition from mainstream jazz on a 4 piece kit to Mahavishnu Orchestra. To me,his transition style was and still is totally unique.

Billy is one of my favorite drummers, I just love his playing, one of the first albums I ever bought on vinyl was “Spectrum”, still one of my all time favorite albums.

Billy Cobham Always been a influence to me for many years. And still i play a 12 piece kit after 54 years of playing Thank you Billy!

Every time he's come to Pittsburgh, I've had the pleasure of talking with this legend, a walking musical history book. He's an open person as real as they get, I think it's because he's not intimidated, he's not afraid of losing his musical position by sharing his knowledge with an individual. I've met Carlos Santana, McCoy Tyner, Sun Ra, John Gilmore, Louis Hayes, Albert Collins, Jack McDuff to name a few who have an open heart, willing to share their knowledge of music and business. I'm truly blessed to have had these musicians share a bit of themselves with me.

My father was from Panama. His heroes: Roberto Duran and, after I introduced him to BC, Billy Cobham.

Mr. Cobham is consummate musician of the highest caliber, unparalleled in the pantheon of drummers. Got to see him at close range in Oakland, mid-‘80s, and walked away with appreciation for ultimate discipline and resilience. When he teamed with my sensei, George Duke, mid-late ‘70s, they carved out a sensibility that infuses my musical vision to this minute. Kydos, Bilham Cobly!

We all love drummers. We have heard so many over the years, from Dave Weckl to Dino Danelli and Buddy and thousands of others. But if there are going to be drummers that simply rise to the pinnacle, Billy Cobham is there with Buddy, John Guerin, Barrie Barlow, Neil Peart, and a few others. Billy's playing is so brilliant, powerful, and raw, like no one else. Go back more than 50 years....he was the first known to play open-handed, to invert the China cymbal, to play with 3 (or more) base drums (and multi-pedal setups - remember that Tama poster of him sitting behind what, at the time, looked like the large drumset ever played by anyone?)...in invented fusion drumming as we know it today.. his dynamics alone were and are astonishing. His overt French grip (remember, this was late '60s and early '70's), and his stick and finger control...for someone so brutal on a drum set, yet able to play at a whisper while playing just as complex patterns as he does when he's assaulting the kit. These are just a few of things I remember thinking and feeling 50 years ago and still do today. Please correct me for any faulty memories. Now go listen to the Spectrum album again.

I'm a musician from Colón, Panamá and he makes me so proud!!!

I came to this post because I had never bothered to think that the marvels of modern time would allow me the luxury to hear Billy talk, man what a man!

Brilliant, insightful, authentic interview. Thank you…

Great man and amazing drummer , composer ECT. Thanks for the video.

For all the interviews I've encountered with Billy, this has to be one of the best and most insightful. You know it when it's about to end and you don't want it to. Another great job by Nick D'Virgilio.

Outstanding drummer! I've seen Mr. Cobham 6 times, over the course of 40 years. All around gentleman. And a veritable phenom in percussion. His album , Crosswinds, still leaves me with awe.

There is only 1 Billy Cobham and I thank my Father Rip Dad, for turning me on to him!

Thank you so much. Billy is so humble and a giant beyond definition. I am truly inspired and have been inspired my whole life by his music and now his candor. Incredible!

Great interview. An amazing drummer, composer and an even more amazing human being. WHO put a thumbs down??? Can you please leave.

Billy Cobham is truly one of the greats with drumming, no matter what walk of life you come from musically. My father showed me his work when I was born and grew up in the 80s. Spectrum and The Billy Cobham George Duke live album in Europe solidified my love of drumming. And I play guitar but dabble in drumming. God bless you Billy and your contribution to music and your influence on me!

I will never forget my friend Dan Mace, who introduced me to so much music that I could never thank him enough. Out of all the acts, bands, albums, that he let me hear there was one standout, and that was the day he loaned me The Inner Mounting Flame! Hearing Billy Cobham for the first time, the 18year old drummer that I was at the time, it had a life-long impact on me. I've since wore out the vinyl that Dan loaned me, bought it on CD, wore that out, bought on vinyl and it gets played often. Of course i dove in and absorbed anything Cobham has recorded, and I gotta say he blows my mind still. Such an amazing drummer! Thanks Dan. rest in peace bro.

Great stuff from Billy Cobham! The day I heard Spectrum, I was about 15, a surprise cassette recording from my drummer-friend in the late 80s, off the record he discovered in his Dad's collection... After us blissing out on Jean-Luc Ponty LPs those heady years... And me learning bass for a mere two years at the time.... It was all a gamechanger. Billy Cobham has the tightest snare sound. And, he mentioned playing "double pianissimo"! Dynamic range of his recordings is exceptional too! A truly real legend. Thanks very much Sweetwater for uploading this! Love from Ireland...

Billy is the Jimi Hendrix of drummers

Thank you Billy and Sweetwater! Wonderfully informative interview from one of the all time legends and a hero of mine

The first time I heard Mr. Cobham play was on a VHS of Zildjian Day 1984 when I was in high school back in '88. That changed my approach to the kit from then on! Then later, I got hooked on his work with Mahavishnu. He's one of the greatest drummers ever! Tony Williams, Art Blakey, Papa Jo Jones, Philly Joe Jones, Joe Morello, Louie Belson, Buddy Rich, etc....all greats!

One missing piece I would have loved to hear about is Mr. Cobham’s incomparable funk… “Dreams” ensemble, “Drum n Voice’ recordings to mention a few… as I mentioned earlier a brilliant interview… thank you.

Thanks for this. I was Billy's tech back in the George Duke days and it's good to see him so relaxed and forthcoming after all these years. He had some health issues last year but he's back in gear and on the road again. Still got the goods.

Billy is my favorite of all time! The greatest discovery was that my drumming hero was also a man to be looked up to as a person.

Man! ... I love “uncle” billy.... as my drum teacher usta call him! And as he put it “He’s one of the best drummers ever... he’s “related” directly or indirectly to nearly every drummer ever!... you know he’s such an influence. It’s like he’s every drummers uncle”. He’s a great inspiration... Great interview!

I had the chance to meet Billy in Moscow about 17 years ago, where he was playing as a guest artist with a Russian big band. He was just as sweet, engaged, and enthusiastic as you see him here. From being a Mahavishnu fan as a teen I was a little starstruck, but he was so friendly and humble that we had a great conversation.

A wonderful seeking and allowing interview with the wonderful BC - my favorite of all time!

NOW THIS IS A GREAT INTERVIEW ,THANKS SWEETWATER IT,S BEAUTIFUL.

Thank you for this great interview! Billy Cobham and the Mahavishnu Orchestra changed my life forever in the Summer of 1972 at Wesleyan College in Middletown Connecticut. What a great musician, composer, band leader, session man, humanitarian and a great human being. I want to meet him, and I will do my very best to do it. 👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼🎼🎶🎵🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🎵🎶🎼

thank you. that was fantastic.

Great interview from one of the Masters.🥁🥁🥁

My All time fav. fusion player. He has made so many great albums. Just love this man, amazing human being, musician and of course drummer.

Great interview! Thank you for making it :)

Amazing interview !!!

What a Class Act.. Well deserved Legend..

Very interesting insight from one of the all time masters. Thanks for making this available.

Thank you for posting this.

WHERE THE MAHAVISHNU ORCHESTRA FANDOM AT? Does he talk about Mahavishnu orchestra or John mclaughlin? Please tell me if he does.

Another great one Nick. These interviews are priceless.

BC is truly amazing, the first time I heard Billy C was on his album " Funky thide of sings" blew my mind~ been listening ever since. Thank you so much Sweetwater~this is super!

Mr.Cobham is , without a doubt, the G.O.A.T.

First heard him in Mahavishnu! Awesome speed and technique!

It's great that you let him talk. Excellent interview!

Just saw him in DC. He is an absolute monster on the drums! 78 and only getting better.

Fascinating listening.

Saw the Professor in San Diego in 1974. The opening act was the Average White Band. The El Cortez Ballroom, my first Concert in San Diego.

I have had the pleasure of seeing NDV play many times, and finally and unexpectedly I'll be seeing Billy this fall. Excellent interview, having a master drummer as the interviewer definitely helps. Explorer's Percussion in KC is my home store, very cool story!

WOW - what an awesome Interview with this outstanding person and musician Billy Cobham O,O - thank U so much for sharing it, I'll share it as well with my friends in the book of faces and elsewhere :-) - so many new insights into the life of BC, whom I've appreciated so much for my own drummer development ^^

Funny thing about Billy's playing: he is unique in the sense that his playing you can't pigeon hole. The way he plays matched grip. Plays lefty being righty. I saw him with McLaughlin I guess 5 times. By the end of the set, Billy played so hard the indentations in the heads from left tom, to floor, got deeper, and deeper. Bass drums history. He left a big influence on me. Bill Cobham--anomaly.

Saw him in Cincy, had is drumstick for years. He told me to set up a set as if you have to play blind, You should know where everything is by feel. He's the drum world's version of Reggie Jackson - I think they wore the same glasses, same build.

ON POINT!

Billy is the best drummer of all time.

Hi Billy!! I hope to see you next time you come to the M.I.M. in PHX. I would love you to autograph my DREAMS album, yes the Original. Thanks for the INSPIRATION in all things. This is John Bowen's drummer from back in High School days. He is: John Bowen Synth Design. (Dan here.)

best interviewer ever!

Absolute legend!!

MY GURU !

Excellent as always. Mr Cobham is such a nice guy and talent to match. Interview wish: Ralph humphrey & Alex van halen, Please..

Bill is The G.O.A.T.

A drumming great being interviewed by a drumming great

The GOAT

Billy Cobham Mi Mayor Maestro el Mejor Baterista de la historia! !!!!!!

It would have been great to have a video of Neil Peart and Billy Cobham together, talking about drum placement. But the video would be 9 hours long. LOL

That makes sense to me that his style- technique has alot of drum and drill corp aspects to it. I could hear it in his playing and now I know why.

I never knew he subbed once or twice for Mel Lewis. Now that’s interesting. And for all you young, uninformed drum heads, google Lalo Schifrin to see what he was all about. The fact that Cobham did a date or dates with him is evidence of the variety of jobs Billy was doing as he was coming up in the music business.

Interesting that Cobham’s motivation for being the best drummer in the world was simply putting food on the table. I would have guessed fame, respect, admiration, enjoyment of music, but it was money!

Whats good family!

Two words: "One Word". Nuff said.

Explorer's in kcmo, haha. My home away from home😁

@22:00 I always thought Billy had just stuck a bebop (12" & 14") on the left side to use if he wanted to play a bebop fill. But it sounds like he had a more musical rather then stylistic purpose... IMHO

Spectrum is a classic I like this album too😂

How hard is mesquite wood? The wood of the mesquite tree has some of the most attractive wood properties desirable in fine wood. It is an extremely stable and hard wood compared with red oak, hickory, hard maple, and walnut. Its wood density of 45 lbs/ft and surface hardness of 2,336 pounds are both high.

Do you know what I like about you Nick? You shut the heck up and let people talk. Too many interviewers out there don’t know how to do that.

Does he mention Mahavishnu?

Some skunk funk

Man... You have to ask him about Spaces with Coryell and Mahavishnu stuff...

Why can’t more musicians be this articulate? The interviewer was adequate, but he should have reserved three or four minutes for some talk about Mahavishnu Orchestra. And it doesn’t help to say things like, “That’s some really cool stuff,” after Cobham has just spoken nonstop for close to 10 minutes.

46 minutes with Billy Cobham and you don't ask him anything about Mahavishnu??? And only 1 question about Miles?

gustav fring

The fastest drummer ever.

steve gadd was a marching band drummer also i think

Mr. Cobham’s pedigree is unreproachable …

Great musician - one of the top five drummers ever to walk the Earth. But age is creeping up - a little worried that he's getting so out-of-shape.

‘Force of Nature’ gets bandied about KZfaq music video commentary, but in this case it is not hyperbole. Billy is a hurricane.

So he isn't ambidextrous... I always assumed he was

Billy has no f king ego..you can’t, and expect to get as far as he has. I try to talk to some of these drummers here on utube…they won’t even talk to you…damn.There’s a lot of things that help you make it..luck has something to do with it. I didn’t make it..I’m actually an introvert, not a chance taker. The people that make it, are the ones that get out there, and take chances.

No drummer likes electronic drums.